The month of September is dedicated to suicide prevention. Suicide is a stigmatized topic, and many people would simply tell a suicidal person to “snap out of it.” The truth is that in South Africa, it is a pandemic, a societal evil, and a threat to many lives.
It’s ok not to be okay
According to Mr. Ernie Smith, a patient at ARCA rehab, there is hope with the right treatment and support. Suicide does not discriminate and affects people of all ages and backgrounds. In lieu of proper treatment, doctors slap people with pills without thinking about it. The correct therapy for suicide prevention is available at ARCA Rehabs in Johannesburg and Durban.
Suicide, addiction, and depression all have a strong and intertwined relationship. More than 90 percent of persons who commit suicide are depressed, have a substance addiction disease, or both. Depression and substance misuse combine to create a deadly cycle that leads to suicide far too frequently. To numb their pain and/or lessen their bad sentiments, many people who suffer from severe depression (as a result of Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and other disorders) turn to drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other dangerous habits.
Suicide risk factors
The following are some of the most common suicide risk factors:
• Suicidal ideation
• Suicide attempts in the past
• Depression
• Abuse of drugs and alcohol
• Suicide in the family or in the community
• There is a history of domestic violence and/or sexual abuse in your family
• incarceration in the past
• Having guns in the house
• Other people’s violent actions
Warning Signs of Suicide
Every person who is thinking about suicide is unique, as are the warning indications they display. Some people show many “classic” warning indicators for a long time before committing suicide, while others show virtually no warning indications in public. It is extremely rare for a person to show all of the warning indicators, and many people who do show warning signs never try suicide, much less succumb to it.
Preventing Suicide
Many people believe that suicide is the most difficult way to lose a loved one. Many people who are left behind believe they could have done anything to prevent suicide because it is assumed that suicide is a decision. In addition to the loss, this produces an overpowering sense of guilt and self-blame.
Reach out for help.